In the Pacific Time Zone, the Moon will be full at 11:54 a.m. on Saturday, April 16. With this Full Moon, the Sun in Aries will be in opposition (180°) to the Moon in Libra. To further clarify how this Full Moon will impact you on a personal level, locate 27° of Aries and 27° of Libra in your birth/natal chart. The issues associated with those two houses are going to be most impacted by this Full Moon’s presence.
All Full Moons involve finding a better balance between the two signs involved. This time, those signs are Aries and Libra:
- The best qualities of Aries include being independent, assertive, energetic, confident, and enthusiastic. The lower expression can involve being overly innocent, impulsive, competitive, or even aggressive.
- The higher expression of Libra includes being cooperative, diplomatic, patient, social, magnetic, and refined. The lower expression could mean being overly dependent and indecisive.
In general, any Libra Full Moon asks us to evaluate whether we have a healthy balance between being independent and interdependent and between being assertive and cooperative. Both ends of each continuum are important; neither alone is productive or healthy. And given Libra is involved, which is symbolized by the scales of justice, the emphasis is clearly on achieving balance. However, attaining balance is not a 1-time event but is, instead, a dynamic process. Often adjustments are needed as life circumstances and/or our inner needs change. It’s also helpful to remember that when making any balance corrections, a series of minor modifications is often more effective than a major alteration.
However, this isn’t an ordinary Libra Full Moon. This one is incredibly powerful and potentially life-changing. In my Astrological Summary for 2022, I mentioned that the first part of the year would be dominated by Pluto, and that has proven to be the case. Before Pluto goes retrograde at the end of this month, the current Aries Full Moon puts Pluto “front and center” in each of our lives. If we have somehow managed to avoid its influence up until now, it’s unlikely we will manage to do so any longer.
This is because Pluto is in very tight (i.e., orb of less than 2°) squares (90°) to both the Sun and the Moon. This forms a t-square planetary configuration (i.e., right triangle) with Pluto in the position that is referred to as the “focal planet.” We have discussed t-squares many times in my Moon Updates. The “focal planet” provides insights into how we can find a better balance between the two planets that are opposing each other, which in this case is the Full Moon. This time, Pluto is the planet that provides us with guidance regarding the type of energy that will be pushing, pulling, insisting, and pressing us to make any necessary changes (i.e., impact of the squares).
The energy of Pluto, as is true of all planets and signs, has both higher and lower expressions. The higher expression can include transformation, healing, and learning how to use power instead of force (e.g., personal empowerment). The lower expression can include jealousy, vindictiveness, obsessions, or the use of power in the form of manipulation, coercion, or aggression. It is up to each of us to consciously choose how we will express Pluto’s power in our lives.
As we have been discussing for several months, one of the positive uses of Pluto’s energy is to give us the power we need to let go of whatever is no longer serving our current life path. Given Pluto is in Capricorn, this may include letting go of responsibilities, changing structures in our lives, and/or organizing a part of our lives that we have been avoiding for some time. The bigger the change involved, the more likely it will be transformative or even life-altering. Although it can be emotionally challenging and may involve hard work, this clearing out process will likely leave us feeling lighter and freer to move forward toward our soul’s purpose at this time in our lives.
Other influences impacting this Libra Full Moon include the following aspects:
- I encourage all of you to review the information presented in the last Moon Update about the rare astrological conjunction (0°) between the co-rulers of Pisces, Jupiter and Neptune. The exact conjunction occurs on Tuesday, April 12, but it will be influencing us for the remainder of this month. Although the following descriptions will not do it justice, the higher expression can include increased faith, creativity, intuition, and occurrences of spiritual experiences. Unfortunately, there is also the very real possibility that the lower expression can sabotage us in the form of “blind spots,” misplaced idealism, or escapism (e.g., addictions, denial).
- At the time of the Full Moon, we have 4 out of 10 planets in Pisces (i.e., Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Neptune). Whenever Pisces and/or Neptune are strongly influencing a chart (and both are this time), we may only see the “truth” we want to see. Furthermore, we need to remember that Full Moons are often times when we don’t always see things clearly because we don’t have as much light from the Sun to clearly illuminate current situations.
- The extra powerful influence of Pisces and Neptune also means that many of us will be more sensitive than usual and our nervous systems might be easily overwhelmed. This can be a good thing when it manifests in the form of heightened psychic/intuitive abilities. However, it also means we can absorb energy more easily. Especially around the Full Moon, we are all advised to seriously consider the quality of energy we are allowing into our lives. If something causes our nervous systems to become agitated, we need to immediately use all our spiritual skills to calm ourselves, including B-R-E-A-T-H-I-N-G. Other Piscean/Neptunian techniques that can be used to quiet our overstressed system include approaching life with grace, forgiving when we are ready, expressing compassion toward ourselves and others, “going with the flow” and learning when the most effective solution may be to surrender.
- Saturn is squaring (90°) both of the Nodes, which likely will prompt a serious re-appraisal of the past and the future. We need to make sure we are making choices that support where we actually want to go. Yes, Saturn can help us see things more realistically, which can help counteract the problem described above regarding seeing things clearly. However, the squares indicate that changes are needed. The South Node in Scorpio (which Pluto rules) is telling us to dig deep into our psyches to find what needs to be healed. The North Node in Taurus is nudging us to use new or improved skills (North Node) that help us get grounded, stay calm, and feel peaceful (Taurus). The sign of bull also encourages us to use our five senses to soothe ourselves. This can include being in nature, getting a massage, meditating, or using mindfulness techniques, such as becoming aware of what we are seeing, hearing, feeling in our bodies, etc.
- We may also need to use any of these techniques to calm our minds. Mercury is conjunct (0°) Uranus at the time of the Full Moon, which means our minds may be very changeable, rapidly jumping from one thought to another. We may find that others or ourselves are prone to impulsivity, nervousness, or impatience. Using the skills described above to quiet our nervous system can also effectively slow down our thought processes. Doing so is important because this Mercury-Uranus conjunct can actually be a very positive aspect, if used effectively. If we aren’t in a state of overstimulation, this aspect can support us in grasping new concepts and/or thinking of new ways of approaching an old problem. Also, our intuitive abilities are often enhanced by this pairing, so we should definitely pay attention to any gut-level feelings, synchronicities, signs, etc.
- There are many parts of the current Libra Full Moon chart that support our efforts to use Pluto’s energy in positive ways:
- Most importantly, the Moon is trining (120°) practical Saturn. Both the Moon and Saturn are located in air signs (i.e., Libra and Aquarius, respectively), which may provide enhanced objectivity and possibly reduce any “drama” that might normally be present with such a volatile Full Moon. Additionally, both Libra and Aquarius are interested in finding solutions that are “fair,” so this may help us look for answers that take into consideration the needs of everyone involved.
- The Moon is also in a wide and out-of-sign trine (120°) to Mars. Although this aspect is fairly weak, it can provide us with the energy and determination we need to make emotional changes in our lives. We may also have the courage to face some emotional or spiritual truths.
- Mars, which just moved into Pisces (see more on this below), is still in a wide conjunction (0°) with Saturn. This can help us be more realistic and resourceful, as well as promote effective problem solving. Saturn also advises us to get organized, focus on long-term success and to use the moto “slow and steady wins the race.”
- Finally, as has been the case in the last few Moon Updates, there are quite a few sweet sextiles (60°) present between many of the planets mentioned above. Analyzing all of them would likely feel overwhelming (and as we discussed above we don’t want to overwhelm our nervous systems or minds right now). Suffice-it-to-say, the presence of these gentle, supportive sextiles are like little gifts that can make any of our efforts a little easier than usual.
As mentioned above, right before the Full Moon (Thursday, April 14), Mars moves out of Aquarius and into watery Pisces, where it will remain until May 24. The highest expression of this placement is that of the “spiritual warrior” who will use non-aggressive methods to fight for what it believes is best for the collective or whole. Even though Mars traditionally doesn’t back down from a fight, it tends to avoid confrontation when moving through Pisces. We may find that our energy is unpredictable, and our actions may be harder to explain because they can be motivated by an intuitive hunch. This is a time when we often are more likely to feel altruistic and willing to put the needs of others before our own.
The Sun moves out of Aries and into peace-loving Taurus on Tuesday, April 19. Actually, this transition may feel like we are suddenly driving through a school zone at 25 mph after a month-long drive on the Autobahn in Germany at 100 mph. But with so many changes going on at this time, slowing down is a good thing. It’s not that our efforts will stop. In fact, we will now have the determination provided by Taurus to help us carry on. If we encounter any obstacles, having the Sun in Taurus will help us overcome them so we can complete our tasks. We will also be aided by the bull’s more methodical approach. However, we do need to spend time this month focusing on our sensual needs, the simple pleasures of life, and the beauty surrounding us. Also, one of the downsides Taurus is the bull who, if pushed past its limit, can see red and become the proverbial “bull in a china shop.” If we start to get frustrated, we are reminded again to use the skills discussed previously (e.g., B-R-E-A-T-H-I-N-G, getting out into nature). All of these spiritual techniques will soothe the savage beast and allow us to access the wonderful gifts provided by Taurus.
Overall, this Libra New Moon is packing one heck of wallop due to having Pluto in such a prominent position. If we neglect our responsibility to consciously select the highest expression of all signs and planets involved, this period of time has the potential to be pretty volatile. It is telling us that the time has come to face anything in our lives that needs to be cleared out, healed, or transformed. This will allow us to become the phoenix that rises from the ashes and is reborn into a new and improved form. It is particularly important to do this work over the next two weeks because as of Friday, April 29, Pluto will turn retrograde for a little over five months. Transformations will still be happening, but the focus will shift from external to internal changes. Adding to the urgency is the fact that we also are about to enter a very potent Eclipse season beginning with the Taurus New Moon on Saturday, April 30. This will be the start of a new 6-month cycle, so it is definitely to our advantage to enter this phase of our lives with as little baggage holding us back as possible. (NOTE: More about all of that in the next Moon Update.)
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THIS BLOG POST WAS WRITTEN BY
- Anne Reith, Ph.D.
- For information about Dr. Reith’s downloadable eBooks and meditations, feel free to visit her online Store
SOME INFORMATION TAKEN FROM
- The Mountain Astrologer (magazine)
- Various online sources (e.g., www.cafeastrology.com)
REMINDER
- New Moons and Full Moons often influence us for the 3 days before and 3 days after the actual event.
FULL MOON
Full Moon at 27° of Libra
- Saturday, April 16, 2022, 11:54 a.m. PDT
- Saturday, April 16, 2022, 2:54 p.m. EDT
- Saturday, April 16, 2022, 6:45 p.m. GMT
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By Anne Reith, Ph.D.